The company will use a survey gauging passengers' needs to draw a new bus timetable.

Ms Bingley said the company asked the former Labor-Green and current Liberal government for subsidies to continue the ferry service.

However, neither government offered anything, she said.

The service needed a government subsidy of $50,000 a year to continue.

The state government yesterday would not say whether it would provide a subsidy.

Phoenix Coaches is still determining what to do with the ferry once the service ends.

Devonport Mayor Steve Martin said he would hold a meeting with the ferry's owners, the Eastern Shore Community House, the Eastern Shore Committee and the East Devonport Child & Family Centre to determine how to approach local members of the state government.

The council could not sustain the ferry service with subsidies over an extended period, he said.

Deputy Mayor Graham Kent said the community's use of the ferry was low.

``If it's to be saved or resurrected, it will require the state government,'' he said. ``Without that, it might be the end of an era.''